Showcase: The Cheek of Her

Published on March 1st, 2013 | Jonny Abrams

Rocksucker digs the kooky, effervescent pop of London songstress Helen Dooley – aka The Cheek of Her – so we fired her over some questions in the hope of finding out a little more about her. First, though, check out her new EP Megaphonic…

How would you describe your music, if pushed?

Angsty, Melody-driven, Pop-Rock Passion.

Where are you based, and what do you use to record with?

London. I record full song sketches at home using Garageband and Logic before going into the Studio to flesh and polish!

Are you signed to a label? If so, how did you come to their attention?

No. I have no idea how to get their attention aside from pulling in 10 million Youtube views or having a knock out song!! It’s tuff out there.

Is there a full album in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it? (Feel free to be as abstract as you like…)

I have lots and lots of material that really is worth recording. You get an inkling when something is worth spending extra time on, or just to write and move on. I will record a 3rd EP or a selection of singles this year, but unless there’s funding in the works or I decide to just treat it as a ‘hobby’ (I hate that word people throw at you when you’re a flaming “Artiste”!) I might shift my focus from music as my central obsession….if it allows me!

Which have been your most exciting gigs and/or overall moments so far?

Just getting out there performing around the place in general!

Got any more coming up? (Gigs, that is…)

10th March Fiddler’s Elbow, Camden!

Are there any obscure and/or up-and-coming acts that you’d like to recommend or give a shout-out to?

There are a lot of talented people out there, but lots of bland uninteresting music too…I like stuff with personality that’s fresh and I struggle to find it most of the time.

I will give a shout out to The Magic Puppet though! He produced Megaphonic my new EP (Jan 2013) with me. If you are a Dubstep head check him out: www.facebook.com/themagicpuppet

Finally, if you were forced to spend the rest of your days in solitary confinement, but were allowed to bring the entire works of five different artists along to tide you over, whose would you choose?

I’d get bored of listening to even my favourite Artists forever, so it’s a hard one! Perhaps some Artists with a large back catalogue like Ani di Franco…could I just have a piano instead of the 5 Artists’ works in my solitary confinement? I think that would do me.